OP BLOGROLL: DUI giveaways; Pandora limit will backfire; more

Wednesday, March 6, 2013

We have blogs for many different interests at TheOaklandPress.com/blogs. If you have an interest in blogging for The Oakland Press, contact community engagement editor Monica Drake at monica.drake@oakpress.com. Below are recent entries in some of our blogs:

Michigan Law Blog

Attorney Aaron J. Boria reviews the reasons you could be stopped for a DUI:

"Drinking and driving offenses carry a certain stigma and for the reason they fiercely prosecuted in the state of Michigan. Police undergo hours of training to teach them what to look for when suspecting a driver of operating while intoxicated.

"The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration publishes a guide for police officers to learn DWI detection. The reasons for stopping a driver suspected of drunken driving is broken down in the manual and percentages of the chances that the person is intoxicated are listed in a range. (Many experts argue that the statistics are based on junk science) The following information comes straight from the manual."

"I have to say that this doesn't seem like a wise move to me. I listen to Pandora a lot, and I am willing to put up with the ads, which I see as an alternative to paying the monthly fee and avoiding ads. In a way, I am paying, because the ad money is going to Pandora instead of my monthly fee.

"But apparently that's not enough for the company. In a way it's not a big deal. If I get to 40 hours and can't listen anymore that month, no big deal. I'll live. There are plenty of other music sources I can use to get my enjoyment. Pandora say that you can pay 99 cents and continue to listen unlimited (with ads) for the remainder of the month once you get to the 40 hour limit, but I would have no desire to do so, just on principle (it's not about the money with a number that low; it's just silly that they're even asking for it)."

Former emergency dispatcher Dave Page wonders why, if children are taught to respond to bullies and violence, why three Florida students are being suspended for doing just that:

"We are bombarded with advertising to stand up and stop the bullying and stop the violence, so why then were three students who saved a fellow student's life suspended? According to Fox4, when two students were arguing on the bus, one pulled out a loaded revolver and pointed it at point blank range at the other student. Three fellow students witnessing what was going on quickly jumped into action and tackled the gun wielding student.

"The article goes onto say from several witnesses and parents, that the actions of the three students saved one life and likely others. I cannot figure out why these students have been suspended, there is no reason for it, in fact we should be throwing them a parade."

Author Tim Wozniak dispels the idea that police just ride in a car and give tickets, providing some of what he's learning:

"Lieutenant Stout went over the Investigative Services Division. He stated that solving crimes is nothing like what is seen on television where within one hour they go to the scene, collect hours of evidence and solve the crime. The investigation takes lots of man-hours including examining the smallest of details. No detail is shelved or not looked at as it may be the key to solving the case. Not all cases are investigated. An example of this would be someone taking garden tools from a garage. They are probably unsolvable. All cases are put into a priority by solvability. Solvability factors include, but are not limited to, a reliable witness, suspect description, suspect previously seen, and a vehicle description. Tips come into play and are reviewed."

Novi schools' Steve Matthews disputes data routinely used by Governor Rick Snyder which states just 17 percent of the state's students are college ready:

"This is a consistent message that the Governor gives. He hammers again and again that only 17% of Michigan's high school seniors are college ready. He has said it many times. But it is just not true. No matter how many times he says it, the Governor is wrong.

"On the Governor's dashboard -- MI School Data (www.mischooldata.org) -- 75 percent of the 2010 graduates -- the latest year for which numbers are available -- enrolled in college within 16 months of graduation.

"On the Governor's dashboard -- MI School Data -- the latest figures show that less than 30 percent need remedial courses in college in any subject. Indeed, the numbers show that less than 8 percent need remedial courses in reading, less than 13 percent need remedial courses in writing, and less than 22% need remedial courses in math.

"If Governor Snyder's numbers were accurate then fully 83 percent of students would need remedial work.

"Why would the Governor try to sell an idea that clearly is not true? He has a political agenda that requires him to try and show that public schools are not doing the job."

College writer Drew Ellis looks at what type of run Michigan could make in the NCAA tournament:

"Trying to figure out this Michigan basketball team has been difficult. Prior to non-conference play, I would have been willing to put money on the Wolverines reaching the Final Four this season. After the loss to Penn State, I would have put money on Michigan to lose early in the NCAA Tournament.

"Now, after a grind-it-out win over Michigan State, I am not sure what to think. I still feel like Michigan is a team that has lost its swagger. The Wolverines still have too many players that seem lost and shy away from the big moment. Ultimately, if Michigan is going to make a deep tournament run, it needs someone other than Trey Burke to step up from time to time."